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Nanaimo


Have you had a situation where a recipe looked great on paper but was a total disaster when you got around to making it. I have an exact reverse with this year's first daring bakers challenge. Nanaimo bars are a Canadian treat I heard about the first time when Lauren announced the challenge. The overly sweet three-layer bars had everyone in a tizzy but I just couldn't see what the deal was. In fact, I thought they were boring. Until this morning, a day late, I put the final layer together and cut one piece of my round nanaimo pie to dig into. And oh my goodness! they are so so good.

The January 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Lauren of Celiac Teen. Lauren chose Gluten-Free Graham Wafers and Nanaimo Bars as the challenge for the month. The sources she based her recipe on are 101 Cookbooks and www.nanaimo.ca.

Step one of the challenge was making graham wafers. Lauren would have preferred us to make them gluten free, but she allowed us to use wheat flour if we liked and that's what I did. This was three days back. I made the crackers, I loved them and crushed them into crumbs to make nanaimos. Then, life happened and this morning was the first chance I got to put it all together.

And it wasn't as scary as it sounded. In fact, it wasn't scary at all. You melt some butter, sugar and cocoa. Then, you beat in an egg but Aparna said to use flax seeds instead and it worked like a dream. In this bowl, you mix your graham cracker crumbs, chopped almonds and coconut. This goes into the pie plate (or a square dish if you insist on bars, you boring person!) pressed as a first layer.

As the first layer chills in the fridge, you beat together butter, cream, custard powder and LOTS of sugar for the second layer. Spreading layers isn't one of my skills but with a huge number of spoons, knives and spatulas I managed it somehow. This goes into the fridge to harden.

Then you melt some butter and chocolate and pour over the final layer. In the fridge for half an hour to set. And that's it!

They are overly sweet so don't you dare eat a lot at one time. But keep them in the freezer and they are going to last you through anytime you need a quick sugar and chocolate fix.
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Comments

jayasree said…
Bars look delicious...
Truly, reading your post, I just got a clear nutshell view of what is to be done. And your writeup makes it sound doable.
January 28, 2010 at 11:51 AM
Parita said…
Perfect looking nanaimo bars! Next time I am going to try them with flax seeds!
January 28, 2010 at 3:04 PM
CurryLeaf said…
Lovely.I too thght they were boring and thgh I had seen and had the recipe,I did not try.Looks Great.
January 28, 2010 at 7:32 PM
Siri said…
It raining 'Nanaimo' bars these days.. and a perfect reason, I love them all. DK, was raving about this recipe other day on phone and now you too! I have to make these soon, I guess..

Hope everything is going well at your end Simran,
Hugs,
Siri
January 29, 2010 at 3:56 AM
Aparna Balasubramanian said…
Guess you're glad you made it in the end, even at the last minute! They can be addictive.

You used flax seeds too. :)
January 31, 2010 at 9:17 AM
s said…
It looks so chocolatey and delicious...I know they were WAY too sweet ....
January 31, 2010 at 5:42 PM
Unknown said…
Yayy you liked them! Lol, sorry but I just get excited to see you like sweets, since maybe that will get you to bake more :P :P Beautiful bars
February 27, 2010 at 12:39 AM
Anjum said…
Fab job!! Worth the effort.Do drop by at http://anjuskitchentreasures.blogspot.com/
February 28, 2010 at 12:20 AM
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